STUDS

Ear piercing in Manhattan doesn’t always mean a mall kiosk or a pharmacy counter. STUDS offers the service on Prince Street, where SoHo’s cast-iron facades meet the quiet stretch east of Broadway. The shop specializes in lobe and cartilage piercings—no guns, only single-use needles—alongside helix, conch, and industrial placements. Jewelry options run from surgical steel to 14-karat gold, and each session includes aftercare instructions printed on a card you can slip into a wallet. Women own and operate the business, a detail noted on the door alongside the hours. The address is 12 Prince St, New York, NY 10012. While the street is narrow, it’s a quick walk from the Broadway-Lafayette subway stop, and the block itself is lined with small boutiques and cafés that make the errand feel less clinical. For an appointment or walk-in availability, call (646) 278-1517; the same number handles questions about swelling, cleaning routines, or lost earrings. A map with directions can be found at this link, where the pin drops between a vintage shop and a flower stall.

Piercing studios in the neighborhood tend to cluster near record stores and tattoo parlors, yet STUDS keeps a lower profile—no neon, no line spilling onto the sidewalk. The service menu lists daith and rook placements for clients curious about pressure-point claims, though the staff stick to anatomy over anecdote. Payment is card-only, and a small mirror is mounted near the exit so you can check the placement before stepping back into the afternoon light. If the idea of a second hole feels sudden, the shop sells gift cards that let someone else choose the moment.